Ski Touring: Col du Merlet from the pont du Merlet - 2,286 m. (7,500 ft)

Fri, 7 March 2014

Technical

Minimum altitude: 1,053 meters

Slope Aspect: East

Trip Reports

Vertical Climbed: 1,230 meters (4,036 feet)

Rating: 2.1

Description

The Col du Merlet is the main ski tour in the Merlet valley. A classic easy day out that passes through summer villages into the high Belledonne mountains. The lower path can present certain difficulties for inexperienced skiers.

Climb the forest trail on the left bank of the Merlet (that is, on the right hand side looking up the Mountain). At 1512 meters pass through the summer village of l'Echaut, the track turns to the west. The road zig-zags to la Grange (1752 meters) before entering a large and relatively flat valley to la Veille Route at 2005 meters. From here climb up steeper slopes to the WNE to reach the Col du Merlet.

The SE facing path above the Pont du Merlet loses snow cover quickly and is hard to ski. An alternative is to cross a bridge over the river at 1256 meters by a reservoir and follow the trail to St Alban les Villards. At 1165 meters you cross the bed of two streams with a large, open, flat slope (le Cugnet) that leads down to the car-park.

Access: From the Maurienne autoroute take the exit at St. Etienne de Cuines for the col du Glandon and the Villards valley. After a few km take a right turn to the Premier Villard, pass through the village and park at the Pont du Merlet (1053 meters). In the spring the Bois du Nant forest track is snow free to the Replat hamlet at 1250 m. It is also possible to start from St Alban des Villards

Country: France Area: Belledonne Trailhead: Pont Du Merlet

Route


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